The Russian government on Monday announced a list of companies where the state would like to sell its assets. The goal is to improve competitiveness because the state is seen as an inefficient corporate manager.
The privatisation plan, which includes four Russian ports, says the state will put up for sale its 34 percent stake in Murmansk Seaport. The list is, among others, published in The Moscow Times on Tuesday.
Murmansk harbour is one of the largest and most busy harbours in Russia, and the only large non-military harbour in the north with access to ice-free waters year around. Large amount of oil, coal, minerals, metals and other type of cargo are shipped in- and out of the Murmansk port every year.
Murmansk seaport had a 971 million RUB (€22,5 million) profit in 2008. In September, BarentsObserver wrote that Murmansk governor Dmitry Dmitriyenko announced a 150 billion RUB (€3,4 billion) investment plan for Murmansk seaport. BarentsObserver also reported an increase in cargo handled in the first eight months of 2009, despite the current economical crises. The amount of cargo was 10,45 million tons, up 12,5 percent compared with the first eight months the year before.
The Russian government also put for sale its 25,5 percent share in Murmansk Shipping Company. The company operates a fleet of 22 dry cargo vessels, six tankers, two passenger vessels and one diesel powered icebreaker.
Of more interest, however, is probably the government’s plan to sell its 25 percent share in Sovcomflot, Russia’s by far largest shipping company. The company had a profit of $406 million (€272 million) in 2008.
Sovcomflot owns 146 vessels and has 15 more in order. It is the world’s number one, when it comes to ice-classed LNG carriers.
In June, BarentsObserver reported that Sovcomflot and Shell entered a partnership agreement to be prepared for the huge potential for LNG-shipping from the Arctic, including the LNG to be produced at Teriberka on the coast of the Kola Peninsula from the world’s largest offshore gas-field, Shtokman in the Barents Sea.
The privatisation plan, which includes four Russian ports, says the state will put up for sale its 34 percent stake in Murmansk Seaport. The list is, among others, published in The Moscow Times on Tuesday.
Murmansk harbour is one of the largest and most busy harbours in Russia, and the only large non-military harbour in the north with access to ice-free waters year around. Large amount of oil, coal, minerals, metals and other type of cargo are shipped in- and out of the Murmansk port every year.
Murmansk seaport had a 971 million RUB (€22,5 million) profit in 2008. In September, BarentsObserver wrote that Murmansk governor Dmitry Dmitriyenko announced a 150 billion RUB (€3,4 billion) investment plan for Murmansk seaport. BarentsObserver also reported an increase in cargo handled in the first eight months of 2009, despite the current economical crises. The amount of cargo was 10,45 million tons, up 12,5 percent compared with the first eight months the year before.
The Russian government also put for sale its 25,5 percent share in Murmansk Shipping Company. The company operates a fleet of 22 dry cargo vessels, six tankers, two passenger vessels and one diesel powered icebreaker.
Of more interest, however, is probably the government’s plan to sell its 25 percent share in Sovcomflot, Russia’s by far largest shipping company. The company had a profit of $406 million (€272 million) in 2008.
Sovcomflot owns 146 vessels and has 15 more in order. It is the world’s number one, when it comes to ice-classed LNG carriers.
In June, BarentsObserver reported that Sovcomflot and Shell entered a partnership agreement to be prepared for the huge potential for LNG-shipping from the Arctic, including the LNG to be produced at Teriberka on the coast of the Kola Peninsula from the world’s largest offshore gas-field, Shtokman in the Barents Sea.